cing4 ho4 ji5 ham1情何以堪

Jyutpingcing4 ho4 ji5 ham1

Yalechìhng hòh yíh hām

語句

Definition

How can one bear such an emotional blow or ordeal

writtenemotion

How it's used

This is a literary idiom that functions as a rhetorical question to express deep sorrow or unbearable emotional distress. It is often used in formal writing or dramatic speech to highlight a sense of injustice or profound disappointment. Using it in casual, everyday conversation can sound overly theatrical or sarcastic.

Examples

hou2好dei6地dei6地bin3變zo2咗zou6做gam3咁，zan1真hai6係cing4情ho4何ji5以ham1堪aa4呀。

Everything was fine, but now it has turned out like this; how can one possibly bear it?

keoi5佢deoi3對nei5你gam3咁hou2好，nei5你ging2竟jin4然gam3咁joeng2樣deoi3對keoi5佢，cing4情ho4何ji5以ham1堪？

They treated you so well, yet you treated them like this; how can they possibly endure such a blow?

Common phrases

giu3叫jan4人cing4情ho4何ji5以ham1堪

how can one be expected to endure this

Common mistake

Learners often mistake this for a simple way to say 'sad' or 'upset', but it specifically implies a situation that is beyond one's capacity to endure due to betrayal or tragic circumstances. It is not used for minor inconveniences.